Since we are trying to decide between two names, one quite popular and one more unusual, I wonder which people would prefer? I have an unusual name and have always disliked spelling / pronouncing it for people, but I know others like to stand out with something different. Thoughts before I saddle my child with either…?!
I have a really popular name, at least where I came from and I would wish to have a bit more unique name. Not super super unique, but so that you don’t hear it on a daily basis everywhere you go. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know what I mean? I’m so bad in explaining, I’m sorry 
I have an older style name for my generation and don’t hear it often which I have always really liked. It’s fairly classic and easily spelled. [name_f]My[/name_f] sister had 3 of her name in her class every year and she didn’t like it. I chose a popular top 5 name for my son. I love it but I regret it’s so popular, so we use an unusual nickname for now
I have a pretty common name and I’d rather have something special for me.
It’s hard to say without knowing the actual names. I’d rather have classic than trendy, and probably unusual rather than popular. But I’d rather have classic popular than strange unique, if that makes sense. The ideal for me would be something strongly traditional but not over-used.
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I’d rather have a more unique name but I think you often want what you don’t have 
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I adore having a more unusual name, because I like people going ‘ooh, that’s interesting’ and not knowing anyone else with the same name. [name_m]Even[/name_m] through pronunciation and spelling mix ups when I was younger, it made me feel special and ‘unique’. I also have friends with [name_f]Emma[/name_f] level popular names, who got fed up being “Emma (surname)” all the time and wanted less common choices.
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I have a common popular name and [name_m]Ive[/name_m] always liked it. I do wish my middle name was more exciting!
That’s actually a really good point. So wise, thank you! I would love straight hair and all my friends with curly hair would love curls for example!
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i have a really common name and always wanted something more different, maybe not something super unique bc it’s true that you may have to spell it all the time, but i’d have definitely wanted something u don’t hear everyday
I would prefer to have a common name for ease of use. It can be frustrating to repeat yourself, correct spelling and pronunciation, and deal with comments about your name. There’s nothing wrong with unusual names, but they can take a little extra effort for introductions. I admire unusual names, but find more common names easier to wear. Then again, I love all kinds of popular and unusual names, and I don’t think how common a name is has to be a deal-breaker!
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[name_f]My[/name_f] name was very unique while I was growing up and I have always received lots of compliments on it - I love my unique name! It’s not a name a lot of people had heard before and it’s fun to watch that “ooh!” moment on someone’s face.
[name_f]My[/name_f] partner’s name is uncommon but old fashioned and recognizable. It’s the name of several old farmers I knew growing up and super weird to hear on a guy my age. He doesn’t mind it but I find it a bit embarrassing.
However, even seeing a downside to my partner’s unique name, I’d still always go for unique over popular. The idea of a name being a unique identifier is very important to me and I personally can’t stand the idea of having to go by my last initial to differentiate myself. There’s so many great names out there! Why share?
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I have a popular name and am very happy with it. [name_f]My[/name_f] brother has a very unusual name and hates it. [name_m]Just[/name_m] my two cents.
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I have a very popular name and I always wished my name was much more unique. I even started spelling it differently to try to make it stand out more when I was younger, but it never stuck. I also want to point out that even the most popular names still get asked for spelling because there are so many spellings of every name and people want to make sure it’s correct usually. Maybe it’s not quite as often as someone with a unique name, but I don’t think having to spell your name should be the make-or-break point when deciding a name because everyone has to spell their name regardless and I’d much rather have to spell out a unique name than a common one.
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It really depends on the name for me.
If it’s so popular that I’d encounter a ton of other people with the name, I’d rather a unique name.
If the name is unique in such a way that people always struggle to pronounce and/or spell it (beyond, that is, the name just not being a name from the area’s “dominant” culture, which is different entirely), then I’d rather the popular name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] ideal is a middle ground, not so unique it’s a struggle to carry, not so popular the name doesn’t feel like mine.
When I named myself, I kept this in mind. [name_f]My[/name_f] legal name is not one I know anyone with, but I rarely have to correct people on its spelling or pronunciation.
I prefer a popular name
i’ve liked having a unique name, it is a fun conversation starter and you often don’t need to put your last name on things 
[name_u]Unique[/name_u]. I hated having to always go by my first + middle name, first + middle initial, first + last name. Eventually I (female) just started going by [name_m]Pierce[/name_m], for about 5 years.
[name_f]My[/name_f] name was unique when I was young. It became more common as I got older. When I was a child, I found it difficult to have a unique name because other children made fun of it.
As an adult however, I love my name! [name_f]My[/name_f] colleagues with popular names always have to use their last name as well as their first because there are too many of them.
Also, today’s society is more multicultural, which means that there is a wider variety of names. For this reason, I think it is less difficult to have a unique name today than it was a generation before.
I’d say go for the name that has the best fit for your child, whether it’s the more common one or the unique one 
Unusual! I’ve always taken great pride in having a unique name, even when it’s not on any keychains and I have to spell it for people. though now my name is growing more popular… so as someone who has experienced both, I preferred when my name was less popular! I love my name a lot!!